Red Sox expect a second finalist in manager search

MILWAUKEE — Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum is scheduled to take part in a second-round interview on Wednesday that is expected to include principal owner John Henry, chairman Tom Werner and CEO/President Larry Lucchino as well as GM Ben Cherington. Beyond that, Cherington said, he expects that the Sox will have at least one other finalist meet with team officials for a second-round interview.

That other candidate may or may not meet with team officials in Milwaukee, but Cherington said that it would be unexpected if the Sox didn’t bring back at least one additional candidate beyond Sveum from the group of interviewees Pete Mackanin (the Phillies bench coach), Indians bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr., Blue Jays first base coach Torey Lovullo and Tigers third base coach Gene Lamont.

“I don’t envision a scenario where there wouldn’t be at least one other candidate discussed,” said Cherington. “I can’t rule anything out. But I would expect that there would be at least one other candidate discussed after the first round.”

Sveum also reportedly will meet with the Cubs for a second-round interview. That, in turn, suggests that the Sox and Cubs could end up pursuing the same candidate, though Cherington was also careful to point out that the ideal fit for Chicago might not be the best candidate for the Red Sox job.

“We don’t have the field to ourselves so that is a factor and it affects timing more than anything,” said Cherington. “I do think that the jobs are different and the same person is not necessarily the right fit for both jobs.’

While Cherington and the Sox did not interview bench coach DeMarlo Hale (or any other member of the Red Sox organization) as part of the search for Boston’s next manager, the Sox GM expressed enthusiasm for the fact that Hale was interviewed by Chicago as part of their search.

“Very happy for him if he’s getting that consideration,” said Cherington. “As I think DeMarlo understands, we think really highly of him and would love to have him back in the organization. Because of the way that the season ended, it was going to be a difficult fit for him in the manager’s role for 2012 with the Red Sox. But he’s a very capable guy, think very highly of him, so we’re very happy for him to get that opportunity.”

In one other housekeeping matter between the Sox and Cubs, Cherington said that the two teams discussed the matter of compensation for Theo Epstein on Tuesday, and planned to continue conversations related to the matter on Tuesday night. Cherington acknowledged that he has been involved in few deals that have taken so long to consummate. He suggested that the trade for Adrian Gonzalez last offseason consumed fewer days on the calendar, though he also noted that at least one deal in which he’s participated in negotiating — the deal sending Hanley Ramirez, Anibal Sanchez and two other pitchers to the Marlins in exchange for Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell and Guillermo Mota in 2005 — took longer than the compensation negotiation for his former boss.

White Sox GM Kenny Williams, who had to negotiate compensation with the Marlins for the departure of manager Ozzie Guillen, took some amusement in the matter.

“I was impressed,” said Williams. “This is a testimony, I think, to Theo and his skill level. It is one thing to trade a manager. But to trade yourself and then to work out the compensation for yourself, that’s one hell of a trip. I’m impressed. … Even though he hasn’t gotten it done, I don’t know how that conversation goes. I have to ask [Cherington] how that conversation goes.

“‘There’s no way I’m going to give you that for me,'” Williams surmised Epstein saying. “‘Who do you think I am? I’m not worth that.'”

Williams, the architect of the 2005 World Series winner, was asked what his value would be on the trade market.

“Probably a lot less than it’s taking, evidently, to get Theo,” said Williams. “There’s probably some White Sox fans who would probably want to give me away. It’s true.”